New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-24
rs THE ELETATED ROfD D1NGEROtN
~ ryGIXrrR MAKES SOME POINTS ABOUT TIE
.-4..-..n ..cc1nrNr-cnInNEL MAIN'S DENIALs. |

Az ENGINEER MAKES SOME POINTS ABOUT I'M
RECENT ACCIDENr-COLoNEL HAMS pENALS
! Van Gcste. engineer Of repuie for twenty
five wears who built the railroads IN Java and Is '''
inventor Of an electric MOTOR was Hc' pS
reporter yesterday.
Uben asked II thcrc anything new, hc san :
Well | know Of one thing that ought to bc imih"-
dIacly rcmcdicd that l., If the public Is I" Do pro-
,ec,cd and If IS tho way repairs arc being mahe on
tbe sixth Avenue Elevated Road. The tracks al III"
Franklin st. station, where the accident occurred 'no
other day are In the same dangerous condition az
,hcv ,rcrc them There are fish plates only on the
uptown track The rails on the downtown tracA arc
ONLY held in position By a fw spikes. beS"oS 'h"''
e protecting beams that belong on the outslde "i 'o
rails 10 secure additional safety have been removed
with this freezing weather the rails OF course are SIP
cry and being round the shape Of the wheel has Ten
dcrsy tt spcad tlcm apart aid the same KIM o AL
accident (, likely to happen at any moment
CoIo,c Hahn general manager of the elevated roads
~, hoinp asked Yesterday what foundation, II any
there was for Mr. Van Gcsto assertions resaf'""s
the condition OF the Sixth ave track saI" Inc
statements ouotcd arc absolutely false There Is not
n vestIge Of fact connected with them Tho lhird
and Sixth ave tracks have been wholly rclald win
now steel rails weighing seventy pounds 10 the Sa"
More than 5000 have been used, and We are no"
dotnp tbe same for the Second and Ninth ave. lines
I'm this work We use the Fischer bridge Joint ana the
Third and Sixth ave. lines are alic1iy eduPpc" WIN
this iont for perfectly securing tho rails They VIII
to found at tho ranhinst station near tho scene Vi
the accident Of Tuesday, and at all the other staoS'
Besldes to attain the greatest possible certainty III
fastening down the rails We use the Hhsh in'eriooh
Ing bolt, by which the rails are boited ih-teai VI
spiked to the cross tics and serve as ad"''o'a'
stringers gbing greater strength and sabi'y 10 & t
structure. Nj an Gcstci. whoever he ~, wiz hl'u
these bolts In use the entire length OF the hlhth ave
and Third ave lines, and they are being put d"~i
also on the other lines They especially lnteIdch
= .IIa fran
Of trains of the track through broken rails. me
statements that there fish plates only ON ihc up
town track and that tho rails on the down town ta,h
are only held In position by few spikes are Simply
nonsense The story about the removal of tie pIu-
tecfng beams IS also unfoundcd In laying new tracks
II is sometimes necessary TO take up the mbrrS ieh
porarly but they replaced again as soon as pos
siblc. , 10 .,,,,
II is also a mlstakc,' added tho Colonel 10 sup
nose that We try deceive The public when the INC
il ockad,l by al accident. Under our system Oh
electric block signals soon accident occurs
all the station agents. conductors and gacnch are AT
once Informed Of the point OF detention. The staoh
agents are directed Immediately 10 disay card Line
UIockcd.' and to inform passengers Of the block anu
sell trkets only those who may decide 10 take thc
risk OF delay This order observe" la~t Tuesday,
that all who bought tckcIs aitcr The accdch' hc"
that they might be delay cl'